Ardmore Marist Rugby & Sports Club defended their National Club 7s title on Saturday, beating Northern United (Wellington) 17-12 in the Cup final.

Ardmore Marist are the second team in recent years to win consecutive titles, after Auckland’s Eden had won in 2017 and 2018.

The Counties Manukau provincial union club sevens champions led Norths 12-7 at halftime, kicking on to win the deciding match of the day. They will return the Middlesex County Wavell Wakefield Cup to their trophy cabinet for another year and will stage the tournament again in 12 months time.

This year’s annual National Club 7s tournament was a one-day 12-team shootout at Bruce Pulman Park, Takanini, venue of this year’s tournament hosts.

Havelock North (Hawke’s Bay) defeated Otago University (Otago) 12-10 in the playoff for fifth. The Villagers scored a try with the last play of the game to win the Plate final game.

The Cup semi-finals had seen Norths beating the Christchurch Axemen (Canterbury) 26-12 and Ardmore Marist toppling Woodlands (Southland) 33-19.

The Cup quarterfinal results resulted in Christchurch beating Havelock North 22-7, Norths beating last year’s beaten finalists Te Puna (Bay of Plenty) 17-7, Woodlands beating Suburbs (Auckland) 26-10 and Ardmore Marist beating Otago University 36-0.

Linton Army (Manawatu) won the Bowl.

Pool play results in the morning were as follows:

Pool A

Havelock North win 14 – 7 over Linton ArmyUniversity of Otago win 14 – 10 over Linton ArmyHavelock North win 24 – 7 over University of Otago

Pool B

Woodlands win 21 – 15 over Te Puna

Woodlands win 26 – 12 over Ponsonby

Te Puna win 36 – 7 over Ponsonby

Pool C

Northern United win 33 – 7 over Western Sharks

Suburbs win 14 – 7 over Western Sharks

Northern United win 31 – 19 over Suburbs

Pool D

Ardmore Marist win 17 – 7 over Hautapu

Christchurch FC win 22 – 21 over Hautapu

Ardmore Marist win 27 – 7 over Christchurch FC

Article added: Sunday 31 January 2021

Source: www.clubrugby.nz